Kakashi squatted opposite Hagoromo. After thinking for a moment, he added,
"Given that we've already run into Biwa Jūzō, it's highly likely there are other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen here as well. Even if that's not the case, there should at least be shinobi of the same caliber. That would explain why the Hyūga squad couldn't even manage to escape."
Objectively speaking, Kakashi's judgment made sense. Hagoromo nodded in agreement.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were among Kirigakure's most elite forces. If several of them acted together, wiping out a Konoha elite squad was entirely possible.
Which meant that their main opponents going forward would be elite jōnin.
"In any case," Hagoromo said,
"we're about to enter the Land of Whirlpools. Considering the enemy's strength, we should avoid splitting up as much as possible."
With the two of them working together, their efficiency was still fairly high.
Unfortunately, things rarely unfolded exactly as planned.
"…Kushina's hometown, huh?"
Hagoromo murmured to himself. Thinking about the connection between this fallen nation and Kushina stirred an inexplicable feeling in him.
"Hm?"
Kakashi clearly hadn't heard him and thought he was talking about the mission.
"It's nothing. Do a quick check, then we move out."
There was really nothing to check. They could depart immediately—except…
"You're still planning to carry that thing?"
Hagoromo pointed at the Executioner's Blade Kakashi was holding. Using a weapon like that required specialized training. Could Kakashi really adapt to it so quickly?
In Hagoromo's view, they might as well toss it into the sea. What was the point of carrying it around?
But Kakashi wasn't holding onto it for combat reasons.
Even young Kakashi had moments of wild imagination.
"You think," he said, "if we somehow gathered all seven of the swords… under extremely special circumstances… could we trade them back for the Byakugan?"
Thankfully, he didn't ask whether they could summon a dragon. Hagoromo barely restrained the urge to roast him.
"No," Hagoromo replied bluntly.
"Either we seize the Byakugan, or they try to reclaim their swords. An exchange won't even cross either side's mind."
And running into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen one after another? Forget it. Even fighting them one at a time would be exhausting—let alone if they were operating in groups.
"Yeah… that makes sense," Kakashi said, immediately realizing the flaw in his idea.
Still, for reasons unknown, he didn't throw the Executioner's Blade away.
At dawn, the two of them entered the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools—a nation without people.
The island wasn't large, relatively speaking. But that depended on perspective. Cram ten thousand people onto it, and it would feel cramped. Hide ten people within it, and they'd be nearly impossible to find.
If the Hyūga clan's Byakugan could function at full capacity, searching wouldn't be too difficult. Unfortunately, due to some form of barrier or large-scale interference ninjutsu, the Byakugan's range was restricted.
That left only old-fashioned manpower.
No matter how you looked at it, the task was difficult.
And for all they knew, the enemy might have already escaped with the Byakugan by unconventional means—say, swimming along the seabed for twenty thousand kilometers.
On the first day after entering the island, Hagoromo's squad found nothing. No enemies—only two encounters with fellow Konoha ninja.
On the second day, in an abandoned village, they finally encountered their second enemy.
And then a third.
Once again, the enemy stepped out proactively.
Whether this was confidence in his own strength aside, the main reason was simple—
Kakashi was carrying irresistible bait.
From a psychological standpoint, these people all suffered from a severe case of weapon fetishism. One sword was enough to make them lose all restraint.
"That blade… if it's in your hands,"
the enemy said slowly,
"then it means Senior Biwa Jūzō has already died by your hands. According to the rules, it should now be inherited by me."
The man looked about the same age as Kakashi, yet spoke with an oddly condescending tone.
As he spoke, his eyes never left the Executioner's Blade in Kakashi's grip. Although he had already accepted Jūzō's death, he showed no grief whatsoever—only a sense of satisfaction, even anticipation.
Kakashi didn't answer.
Naturally, he had no intention of handing the blade over.
Nor did he plan to fight using a weapon taller than himself.
He drove the Executioner's Blade into the ground at his feet, then drew the short blade strapped to his back.
The message was clear:
If you want it, come and take it.
Although Hagoromo was still standing beside Kakashi, he could no longer fight alongside him. Whether he trusted Kakashi or not, he had no choice but to trust him now.
"Kakashi," Hagoromo said,
"you'll be fine handling this kid on your own, right?"
Kakashi nodded.
"No problem."
"Good. Looks like we'll have to split up for now…"
This wasn't about seeking fair duels—it was because Hagoromo had noticed a much more conspicuous presence.
He took a deep breath and walked in the opposite direction, deeper into the village.
"So you really did notice me."
A voice rang out before Hagoromo got close.
The sounds of battle had already erupted behind him, but Hagoromo didn't turn around. He stared at the man who had just revealed himself, studied his face for a moment, then said:
"Why do I feel like you look… familiar?"
The man answered frankly, revealing his identity without hesitation.
"My name—
you can call me Rōshi."
As expected.
"Why would someone from Iwagakure appear here?"
There was another question Hagoromo didn't voice aloud:
And why a jinchūriki?
"There is, naturally, an appropriate reason," Rōshi replied.
Which was the same as saying nothing at all.
"In this situation," Hagoromo said cautiously,
"there doesn't seem to be any reason for us to fight, does there?"
Clashing with Iwagakure's jinchūriki would do nothing to advance his mission—it would only waste precious strength. If they could coexist temporarily, that would be ideal.
Why was an Iwa jinchūriki here?
Was he connected to Kirigakure's operation?
Speculation alone wasn't enough to answer that.
But judging by Rōshi's attitude, he clearly harbored hostility toward Konoha shinobi.
"Given the current state of affairs," Rōshi said calmly,
"when shinobi of Iwagakure and Konoha meet, peaceful coexistence is rarely an option."
"And besides—
it's not just you who finds me familiar. I believe I know who you are as well…"
"Konoha's 'White Yaksha,' correct?"
He knew his identity?
Hagoromo's expression shifted subtly beneath his mask.
Had Iwagakure deployed a jinchūriki as part of a targeted operation?
It seemed combat was inevitable.
"I didn't expect the Four-Tails' jinchūriki to have heard of my name," Hagoromo said evenly.
"I'm honored."
Exposure of identity usually meant exposure of abilities—never a good thing in battle.
Honored?
If Hagoromo truly felt honored, that would be the real joke.
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